skeptic

If anyone is interested, I am posting a Scouting related Christmas themed graphic on my Facebook page almost every day. I have gleaned them from various areas of the net over the past ten or so years, and keep them in my "graphics" archive. Take a look if you are interested; http://www.facebook.com/#! Just in case the link does not work, look under Wes Fish on the site.

So, about a third were probably beyond the control of the camps in which they occurred; the tornado would have been far worse, had the scouts not done such a great job overall with the emergency; adults with health problems can only be screened so much, but they are adults and make choices; the scout sleeping, killed by lightning: what did the scouts do wrong?; adults electrocuted were foolish and should have known better. On some of the drownings, I would wonder if the activity was under the direct scout supervision, or a professional vendor who does it. And, without knowing the details, how many of the deaths happened "with" proper supervision and safety involved, but still occurred? There are a few that really do stand out as likely lack of or poor supervision and poor safety precautions. Certainly we can always do better; but reality is that sometimes these things will happen no matter how well we do to avoid them. But it would be good to have these types of occurrences discussed as part of the training programs, in order to reinforce how important it is. One death is too many, so whatever it takes to reduce the likely-hood of it happening should be done. But we cannot take all the danger out of scouting, especially the high adventure areas. And we cannot make adults act like adults and know their own limitations. Finally, I would challenge the author of this to compare the scouting record with those of similar groups, outdoor programs, and even professional river or high adventure businesses. I suspect that we would find our record is really pretty good in comparison. Then, add in just living in any community; how many more kids die due to all kinds of stupidity, negligence, and simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time?

I am at the point that re-reading Mark Twain's and Will Rogers' political writings seems the only way to go. Amazing how much of what they had to say can be related to today's events.

Because too few vote to start with? Half the complainers will tell you they do not vote because it makes no difference, or some other lame excuse. Yet they often are the loudest. It is embarrassing to supposedly be a "builder of democracies", yet have a citizenry that does not take advantage of the system. That infamous "silent" majority we constantly note. Any suggestions how to get them to speak up?

For an "experienced leader", this seems to be very foolish at best, and not reflective of that much leadership tenure. For whatever reason, it should not have happened. That said, all of us with any time in the program have likely had our "whewwww!" stories. I had four mid senior scouts go cross country rock hopping in Indian Cove in Joshua Tree. Before they went, we went over the "rules"; stay together; keep everyone in sight; stop when needed for everyone; start back no later than 2:30 (made sure a working watch with them). Three came back, one not with them. "Oh, he wanted to look at something on a rock a ways away, and we were tired. He said he would catch up." Steam, annoyance, worry; they turn to real panic as dusk approaches; just starting to go for ranger, when he wanders in, no worse for wear. So relieved that I barely said anything that evening. Next morning, we had a very serious talk; am afraid I may have even yelled at them for being idiots, though not sure. What did I learn? Never assume they will do what they say they will do. Do not go on outings with too few adults; this was the era of no 2 deep rule, and I only had one other with me with 10-12 kids. We were lucky, and we all learned something. It is just sad that in some cases, the lesson is tragic, rather than educational and something to look back on with a laugh and another "thank God".

So, I hate to be ignorant, but I do not see how you can edit your site info. The council comes up, but there does not appear to be any type of change or correction button. Thanks for any clarification someone might give.

In my many years as SM, I have perhaps had 2 or 3 times when I would deem the conference to be a recommendation to NOT proceed with a board. That being said, as noted, the scout may still request one. Once that occurred, and I gave the advancement chair my thoughts on why the scout was not ready, so they knew my reasoning. I would think, in those rare occasions of this issue, that a SM would do this. I did tell the scout that I would pass my recommendations to the board, so it was not a surprise. He was given a new date, with specific goals to overcome the concerns, and he took the initiative and did it. He handled it better than his parent, frankly. Thought briefly she might pull him from the unit, as it was a Life board. He eventually did complete his Eagle, and actually talked about the Life board to his Eagle board, I was told. At least in this case, it seems to have been a growing experience.

Just how do you "loose" your testicles? Is there an operation, a stretching process, or are they off running around somewhere, somehow? CPWTK

(recent publication that I scanned). Must be from one of those Texas energy companies like the ones that continue to try to maneuver California to their profit.

Much of the best of our trips across the country to Philmont from Southern California was the trip itself, and the stop offs. Both sides of the Grand Canyon, Zion, Durango, Indian Country, Four Corners, and so on. You can do the hiking as well, or better more or less in our backyard, but the natural and historic sites along the way are far fewer. Pro's and con's.

Do I discern a bit of bitterness and animosity in these things? Sorry, this is mostly just a diatribe of someone with a bone to pick. Its also five years old. JMHO

In regard to Philmont being put up for sale somehow; I believe that is not possible under the granting of the property. I could be wrong, but I think it cannot ever be sold. Any attempt would cause its reverting to the Phillips family. Basically, it belongs to all the scouts and scouters in the program, not National directly. Surely someone has more specific info on this.

"Her daughter is also a really good dancer." Really?? Hmmmmmmmmm;seems to me that the judges did not think so!

To those who cannot pray. To those who cannot walk upon the ground. To those who cannot see and those who cannot hear the world around them. To those who cannot speak. To those in misery and discomfort. To those poor of means or poor of spirit to those who feel oppressed or put upon. To those who have not yet found a God or someone they can pray to or someone with whom to pray. Oh lord, for these our sisters and our brothers who do not pray and will not pray, we ask that you provide enough wisdom and compassion in all of us to pray for them . . . and for ourselves that we find better ways of caring for and helping one another. - Rod McKuen 11/21/98. Adapted from "A Prayer For Our Special Brothers & Sisters" from "An Outstretched Hand.", 1980

"If there was a spec of dirt in this woman's past, we already know about it!" Don't bet your future on this!

Broken bags give you egg-soup. Actually, you often can salvage most of the leakage with a good spoon with holes. Those of us that have less inhibition will eat what the others might not.

Learning to reach beyond themselves is part of the strength of Scouting. Over the years, I have had a number of boys who had swimming issues; but they were able to run and jump and wrestle, so there was no reason to look for an out. And, yes, in at least one case, it likely kept a boy from making Eagle, since it took him four years to make First Class. But he swam the mile using the elementary back stroke when he was 16, and he stayed with us til he went away to college out of town. It took me literally months to finally pass signaling as a scout. But the effort and struggle were to my benefit. We might be better served if we had a few more big challenges in the early ranks. But we do not usually hear complaints about boys having trouble with knots or lashings; yet that can be just as hard for many, especially ones who are dyslectic or have other similar issues. Scouting is NOT about the ranks. It is about hopefully helping boys grow into young adults, and meeting challenges beyond their everyday encounters. It is also about simply having fun sometimes. Too much focus on advancement does not make the best program. They have enough pressure put on them already in our over programmed society.

If you are referring to the full color patch, then the dates noted are pretty close; but the predecessor r/w council patch (as opposed to individual city and state)started much earlier, circa 1960. We had one for our jamboree troop from the old Arrowhead Area Council in San Bernardino.

Whoa!!!! "Old Fossil?" Speak for yourself.

Camilam; You will not get far with reason on this; you simply cannot really separate the emotion from the subject. But, you certainly have put some things out to consider.

Would not meet the current PC plateau.

No one doubted what Bush meant; lets not stretch it too far.

And this is inappropriate why? Sorry, but this has been around forever, and I fail to see a problem. JMHO

Any comment on the Pol reality first installment?

Thank you Calico for the info on California roofs. I have thought exactly that for a while now; and it is simply common sense. Then, again, we cannot forget the "common sense" seems to be very uncommon. But, having a house in the desert, I am quite aware of how fragile that environment is; and it is the transmission grid that is the larger issue, as it would require huge grading and other disruptive processes in the corridors to the cities. But the people actually living in the desert are beginning to flex their muscles, and have won a number of recent battles in their environmental defense efforts. Interesting thing about wind is that it was the primary source of energy for decades, and still is in parts of the more remote areas. They simply called it a windmill.